I am now the proud owner of a Panzer III track link

Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

I am now the proud owner of a Panzer III track link

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 13, 2004 8:31 AM

I mean a real one. I bought it from a guy in Poland, and it was shipped to me from the Czech Republic.

The steel itself, which has clearly been recently sandblasted, is kind of a waxy medium steel color, with a slight brownish hue. There is some rust inside the guide teeth, which don't have holes in them but which are hollow. The letters CKC are stamped inside one of the chevrons. I don't know what that means.

Interestingly, there is some gritty very dark brown colored areas of the track that look like very old paint. It is extremely dark brown. I had just read that the Germans painted their links dark brown. I think this might actually be hard baked on residue of the original paint.

It took forever to come, but it is so cool to have. I may build a Panzer III now and have it crawling over the link -- that would make for a neat display! Smile [:)]

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erush

Member since
May 2003
From: USA, GA

Posted by erush on Friday, February 13, 2004 8:45 AM

That's pretty cool Larry. The display idea sounds good too!! Big Smile [:D]

Eric

Hi, I'm Eric and I'm a Modelholic too. I think I have PE poisioning.

"Friendly fire...isn't"

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wildwilliam

Member since
December 2009
From: West Grove, PA

Posted by wildwilliam on Friday, February 13, 2004 9:20 AM

Larry,
what does this thing weigh?
i cannot imagine what it would cost to ship from overseas!

ed.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 13, 2004 10:19 AM

Larry, the Germans love to organize all, and the ww2-stuff (vehicles, parts, manufacturers and so on ...) was no exception. I think CKC is the code of a manufactuerer. Look to the table in the internet link and you will find ckc means "Deutsche Eisenwerke AG, Muehlheim, Ruhr".
http://www.bordingl.com/zcodici98.htm

Greetings from the country of order :)

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 13, 2004 10:21 AM

QUOTE: Originally posted by wildwilliam

Larry,
what does this thing weigh?
i cannot imagine what it would cost to ship from overseas!

It is heavy, man. It cost me 29 bucks, I think, and the shipping cost around $40!

The mailman, a really small, slightly-built guy, nearly had a heart attack bringing it to the porch, my wife said. My mailman is clearly not panzer crew material! Smile [:)]

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 13, 2004 10:25 AM

QUOTE: Originally posted by panzerpabst

Greetings from the country of order :)

Indeed! Thanks for the info on the link's manufacturer, PP.

By the way, guys, this guy is the same person currently selling the Tiger II wheel, and he's also got some Panzer II links up for sale. The Panzer III link is heavy, but you can pick it up, probably with one hand if you balance it right. It's not killer heavy. I'm guessing the heavy tank links are really, really heavy.

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J-Hulk

Member since
February 2003
From: Tochigi, Japan

Posted by J-Hulk on Friday, February 13, 2004 11:02 AM

Wow, it wasn't so expensive, considering! only 29 bucks for the link itself?!?!
That's a cool item.
I like your idea to use it as a base!

~Brian

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wipw

Member since
January 2003
From: Utah - USA

Posted by wipw on Friday, February 13, 2004 11:22 AM

Nice score, Larry!! How about posting some pictures of this thing.

Having a model crawl over it sounds like a cool idea. Sounds like a contest winner to me!

Have a great day!

Bill ==========================================================

DML M4A2 Red Army ==========================================================

========================================================== -- There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness". (Author unknown)

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 13, 2004 11:40 AM

Hey Larry! Could that be the "missing link"? sorry

Keep shopping, only 4,328 more parts to go!

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 13, 2004 11:43 AM

QUOTE: Originally posted by dannyandre

Hey Larry! Could that be the "missing link"? sorry

Keep shopping, only 4,328 more parts to go!

Really! And then I will have my own incredibly obsolete tank that most modern police departments could cope with!

Brian, I think it was $29. Might have been more, but not a lot more. Maybe I got the postage and the price mixed up ... Question [?]

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lizardqing

Member since
July 2003
From: Dahlonega, Georgia

Posted by lizardqing on Friday, February 13, 2004 12:22 PM

That would be a cool piece of history to own. The base idea sounds like a one of a kind thing. Can't wait to see that.

Chris The Scale Firehouse The Lizard's Workshop

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maffen

Member since
September 2003

Posted by maffen on Friday, February 13, 2004 2:29 PM

gonna be a heavy metal dio Laugh [(-D]

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 13, 2004 3:52 PM

The way things keep going he will have to register that track link with the government because it is part of a weopon. Sad [:(]

codes, codes, codes.... the Germans had many as you can see in the link posted above. I have used those lists to find out where some mausers were built, etc... everything has a code on it somewhere. History is what makes it interesting to me.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 13, 2004 4:03 PM

Was it wrapped in bubble wrap to protect it Laugh [(-D]

Sounds like a nice little piece of History to have Larry.

Last year one of the guys in my model club brought along a track link from a Japanese tank, to sit with his Japanese models on our club display. Got a lot of comment.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 13, 2004 4:06 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by muzzleflash88

The way things keep going he will have to register that track link with the government because it is part of a weopon.

Track link is a weapon of mass destruction!!! Invade the Czech Republic immediately! Laugh [(-D]

I almost wonder if this transaction was on the up and up. I wonder if these tank parts are part of the national heritage of Poland or the CR or wherever the heck the thing originally came from. In the description of the item in the box was written "tractor part."

The first time he shipped it to me, it never arrived. (Meaningful silence.)

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 13, 2004 4:11 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by petbat

Was it wrapped in bubble wrap to protect it

Ah you laugh but it was! I think it was more to keep it tight in the box, so that this forty-pound piece of steel is not bouncing around in a cardboard box.

I open the box, all excited, and my three-year old twins are sitting there on the bed with me, also excited because Daddy is. So I take it out and oooh and aaah, and they oooh and aaah too -- because they have lots of bubble wrap to pop! Laugh [(-D]

The track link they could care less about.

QUOTE: Last year one of the guys in my model club brought along a track link from a Japanese tank, to sit with his Japanese models on our club display. Got a lot of comment.

I'll bet he just stashed the link in his pocket. Smile [:)]

Seriously though, even the smallest tank had links of a decent size. You always think of the PzIII links as being kind of small, because it wasn't a real big tank, but this thing when it's sitting on the bedroom floor is just humongous. It reminds you how big a tank really is in 1/1 scale. Smile [:)]

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mark956

Member since
February 2003
From: USA

Posted by mark956 on Friday, February 13, 2004 4:13 PM

Very Cool Larry. When are you going to post a picture of it.
mark956

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 13, 2004 4:21 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by mark956

Very Cool Larry. When are you going to post a picture of it.
mark956

Maybe I will take one tonight if the wife hasn't absconded with the digicam! I'm a really bad photographer, but I'll see if I can show some of the details.

The guy has PzII links for sale now, guys. Panzer II -- tank of the blitzkrieg! And he's got a 100% positive feedback, IIRC. Thirty clams for a link, I think it is.

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 13, 2004 5:36 PM

QUOTE: Originally posted by Larry_Dunn
It is heavy, man. It cost me 29 bucks, I think, and the shipping cost around $40!

The mailman, a really small, slightly-built guy, nearly had a heart attack bringing it to the porch, my wife said. My mailman is clearly not panzer crew material!

He should be really glad you didn't go for the King Tiger road wheel then, eh?

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tigerman

Member since
March 2003
From: Rain USA, Vancouver WA

Posted by tigerman on Friday, February 13, 2004 5:42 PM

Cool Larry, what a lovely paperweight. Smile [:)]

Or it could come in handy to keep the significant other in line... Evil [}:)]

LOL

Eric

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Dwight Ta-ala

Member since
July 2003
From: Philippines

Posted by Dwight Ta-ala on Friday, February 13, 2004 5:51 PM

Now how many more links do you still need to complete the two sides? He-he-he.

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lolok

Member since
March 2003
From: On the way to AC+793888

Posted by lolok on Monday, February 16, 2004 5:18 AM

Well, I live in Poland now and that tiger wheel sounds tempting!!! There is some amazing stuff turning up here. I told the forum a while back about the turretless Panther found at the bottom of a farmers pond when he drained it. He sold it to an American guy for restoration. When I first started visiting my Polish fiance about 8 years ago every town had a Mig 19 or 21 standing on the village green. they were in a terrible state with the kids playing on them and pulling pieces off. Then about 3 years ago they all just disappeared. I could kick myself for not sneaking out at night with my tool kit and helping myself to a few pieces. The farmers are always turning up bits of tanks and planes not to mention graves. Recently 6 bodies were returned to germany for military funeral.

Jim Ryan Ex-Pat Limey in warsaw.Poland. " MENE,MENE,TEKEL U PHARSIN"

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KJ200

Member since
July 2003
From: Bicester, England

Posted by KJ200 on Monday, February 16, 2004 7:26 AM

The track link is cool, I think the Tiger II wheel might be a little on the heavy side, but as a base for your sun umbrella I'm sure it would be great!

Lolok, I often wonder how much hardware is still out there, especially to the East of the former iron curtain? Keep us posted, as I love hearing about these finds.

Karl

Currently on the bench: AZ Models 1/72 Mig 17PF

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Anonymous

Member since
November 2005

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 16, 2004 1:33 PM

Cool!

But now there's some poor German tanker in his old MkIII driving around in circles with that shortened track! Wink [;)]

Yes, you must build a MkIII and display it on.. or with.. the link!

Ron.

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bilbirk

Member since
August 2003
From: Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan

Posted by bilbirk on Saturday, February 21, 2004 9:13 PM

I guess you should know that if you could go to Germany that you can find this stuff everywhere. All the old US Army bases had this stuff The best place that i remember was either Grafenwoer or Hohenfels. When i was in the army we used the old tanks and halftracks for target practice. You would be amazed at the availibilty of stuff there.

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